This is how a public bidding war ignites: The Mets, Mike Piazza, the soon-to-be Hall of Famer's dad and the company that is auctioning Piazza's historic post-9/11 Mets jersey all have had their say over the controversial sale.
And in 12 hours, from Thursday into Friday, the high bid on the jersey the Mets let slip from their possession went from $86,000 to $141,000, the New York Post reported.
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Three years ago, the Mets sold the jersey, and earlier this week in a statement to the Post admitted their blunder.
“We made a mistake in selling the jersey and [COO Jeff Wilpon] called Mike to express our regret in so doing,’’ a Mets spokesperson said. “We have dedicated a section in the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum to celebrate Mike’s achievements and his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and are exploring memorabilia to display in that area.
“We can’t verify the item being auctioned, but can confirm that our memorabilia group sold a jersey that meets this description, which was not authenticated with respect to game use.’’
Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin, however, told ESPN that the Mets did, in fact, verify the jersey's game-used authenticity.
"It comes with a letter of authenticity from the New York Mets, it comes with a photo-matched letter of authenticity from MeiGray, it comes with the display plaque when it hung in the Mets Museum that states, 'In this jersey Mike Piazza hit the game-winning home run on 9/21/2001,'" Goldin said.
The whole situation has left a bad taste in the Piazza family's mouths. Mike told the Post earlier: "I'm very disappointed with the situation regarding my game jersey from Sept. 21, 2001. I've expressed my feelings to Jeff [Wilpon] and the Mets."
Vince Piazza, Mike's father, was even prepared to buy the jersey out of auction, so it could go to the Naitonal Baseballl Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., when Mike is enshrined July 24.
But the price jump made him bow out, he told the Post on Friday.
“I was willing to pay $86,000, even go up to $90,000, write the check on the spot, and send the jersey to Cooperstown,’’ Vince told the Post on Friday. “But I can see what is going on here, this is just a bidding war. I’m not getting involved in that, so I’m out.’’
